About us

In December 2007 the French government took a far-reaching decision – that of bringing together the Cité des Sciences and the Palais de la Découverte to create universcience, a single entity that would promote the culture of science and technology on the national and European stage. Now in place, the new two-site structure aims to carry through an ambitious cultural and scientific project, working with a wide range of partners.

universcience will:

• observe, experience and understand advances in science and technology by monitoring and highlighting new developments, in cooperation with the parties directly involved (research scientists, companies, etc.)
• provide the public with the tools and methods needed to grasp complex innovative technology
• organize public debates to examine major science issues and their impact on society, and provide a forum for the parties concerned
• focus on young people, and encourage them to study science, by providing them with stimulating educational and training tools that draw on the expertise of the Cité des Sciences, the Palais de la Découverte and their partners in this sphere
• encourage and contribute to dialogue, to help ensure that globalization and the sweeping changes it brings about do not accentuate disparities and inequalities.

universcience will :

• promote dialogue with the social and educational sciences by presenting exhibitions on topics affecting society, testing new educational methods, and setting up spaces that focus on new uses of innovative technology
• explore the fertile relationship between science and art, creating exhibitions, shows and installations around concepts such as beauty, colour or fashion
• encourage creativity and risk-taking
• showcase the history of science – key discoveries, great scientists and technologists – and also focus on mistakes that have been made so as to give science a human face and encourage a critical viewpoint
• involve visitors in the design of exhibitions and services, and in testing and assessing the innovations presented. This participative process will take the public's expectations into account and make use of cognitive research on learning.

universcience will:

• highlight the results of fundamental research by placing experiment at the heart of its museology, mobilizing scientific explainers and researchers, and enabling visitors to observe real phenomena in real time
• present exhibitions on fundamental science that make use of interactive features and activities, designed to provide visitors with points of reference for them to grasp and retain complex scientific information.